My folks hosted an Australian exchange student when I was in the seventh grade, and many moons later, I still remember the excitement of hearing about foreign climes -- for instance, "our" student, who was from Australia, once remarked that her flip flops stuck to the hot asphalt when she walked to the beach at home. Wow! I lived in a landlocked desert, and I had never imagined living someplace where one could walk to the beach, much less where the temps could fry a flip flop. I was hooked on exploring other locales for life.
Pacific Intercultural Exchange (P.I.E.) is an exchange student clearinghouse and a great source of research info. PIE students are English speakers from 15 to 18 years old; P.I.E.'s programs range from semester long to full year stays. Our exchange student came to the US through Rotary, and spent three months each with four families in the course of a year.
FAQ's: Hosting a High School Exchange Student
Use PIE to do some study: understand what hosting means with PIE's introduction to hosting an exchange student. Understand how an exchange program will match your family and a student, using criteria like gender, hobbies and interests.
A fascinating FAQ on hosting an exchange student through P.I.E. answers many questions your parents may ask:
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"I don't have any children at home. Can I still host?"
- "Can young children benefit from hosting?" (As a seventh grader, I learned that airmail existed from our exchange student.)
- "Does a student need his / her own room?"
- "What happens if my family and the student don't get along?"
- "Can I choose the student I would like to have stay with us?"
- "What are my responsibilities as a host parent?"
- "Are host families paid?"
- "Who pays the exchange student's medical bills?"
Thinking you'd like to be a high school exchange student yourself? Get all the answers about your own high school study abroad.